Catholic Spiritual Living Journal

If you have faith... nothing will be impossible unto you
~ Matthew 17:20

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Fourth meditation for Tuesday : Blessed Saint Joseph

PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.Read slowly and devoutly :

"Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God. They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no, not one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the LORD? There they shall be in great terror, for God is with the company of the righteous. You would confound the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad."

Meditate :

Bring all you have read before you at once, as if you saw our Lord.

Then say to Him whatever comes into your mind to say; for instance:

Joseph was pure and innocent in a way unlike any other man who ever lived, our Lord excepted. His soul was as white as snow. He had nothing whatever within his heart to make him ashamed, and he would have found it most difficult to find matter for confession.

0 Blessed Joseph, make me so blameless and irreproachable that I should not care though friends saw into my heart as perfectly as Jesus and Mary saw into thine. 0 gain me the grace of holy simplicity arid affection, so that I may love thee, Mary, and, above all, Jesus, as thou did love Jesus arid Mary.

Joseph was as humble as he was sinless. He never thought of himself, but always of the Infant Savior, whom he carried in his arms.

0 Holy Joseph, make me like thee in purity, simplicity, innocence and devotion.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Third meditation for Monday : dedicated to Guardian Angel

PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.

Read slowly and devoutly : Psalm 91

"You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day,or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place,no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation."

Before meditation :

Bring all you have read before you, as if you saw the Angels protecting you, especially your Guardian Angel.

Then say to God whatever is suggested to you; for instance:

"He has given His Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."

Prayer :

O my God, I will go forward in Thy way, for my Guardian goes with me. I am very blind; I know not what is before me. I know not what will happen to me in life. I do not know whether I shall live long, or die young. But this I know, that in health and sickness, in joy and sorrow, in youth and age, Thou wilt be with me.

O my sweet Guardian, how beautiful thou art. I wish I could see thee. And thou art as pure and holy as thou art beautiful, and thy breath inspires chaste thoughts. And as gentle and kind as thou art pure.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Second Meditation for Sunday : OUR LORD

PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.Read slowly and devoutly

Apocalypse, chap. i, verses 11-18. I was," & down to " of death and of hell." *

"Apocalypse1:10: I was in the spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Apocalypse 1:11 Saying: What thou seest, write in a book and send to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamus and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.

Apocalypse 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks:

Apocalypse 1:13 And in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, one like to the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Apocalypse 1:14 And his head and his hairs were white as white wool and as snow. And his eyes were as a flame of fire:

Apocalypse 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as in a burning furnace. And his voice as the sound of many waters.

Apocalypse 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars. And from his mouth came out a sharp two-edged sword. And his face was as the sun shineth in his power.

Apocalypse 1:17 And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet as dead.

And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not. I am the First and the Last,

Apocalypse 1:18 And alive, and was dead. And behold I am living for ever and ever and have the keys of death and of hell.

Meditation :Bring all you have read before you at once, as if you saw our Lord.

Then say to Him whatever comes into your mind to say; for instance:--

" His eyes were as a flame of fire," and " His countenance shone as the sun shining [at full] strength."

O my God, the day will come when I shall see that countenance and those eyes, when my soul returns to Him to be judged,

Those eyes are so piercing: they see through me; nothing is hid from them. You count every hair of my head; You know every breath I breathe; You see every morsel of food I take.

Those eyes are so pure. They are so clear that I can look into their depths, as into some transparent well of water, though I cannot see the bottom; for You art infinite.

Those eyes are so loving; So gentle, so sweet; they seem to say, " Come to Me."

15 October 2006 : Feast of Saint Teresa of Avila

Saint Teresa of Avila experienced what the Church has always taught regarding Jesus presence. He is actually present Body, Soul, Blood and Divinity on our altars and holy tables through the consecrated bread and wine. And He remains in all Catholic Churches around the world where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the tabernacles. He is also present in a special manner in the soul and body of every creature on the face of the earth. He is present in God's word and many other manners. God is ubiquitous and His Sacred Humanity stays with us in an ineffable manner.The saint's writings and your prayer will furthermore inspire you to spend more time and reflection on this divine Person who dwells with us on earth as He is in Heaven. St Teresa's mystical writings lived out will steep you in unforgettable contemplation of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Sincere prayer is unitive and Trinitarian and encourages and impels you to show and have love for God and all of God's creatures .God promised and sent the Holy Spirit to his believers from the very beginning of recorded history and he gave us the prophets and holy women. Later Christ sent the fathers, apostles, martyrs, saints and doctors, like St Teresa, to help us in the transmission and transformation of that holy faith through their example, writings and life so that we might imitate them.

Dear wonderful saint, model of fidelity to vows, you gladly carried a heavy cross following in the steps of Christ who chose to be crucified for us. You realized that God like a merciful Father chastises those whom He loves — which to worldings seems silly indeed. Grant to N. relief from great pains if this is in line with God's plan.Amen.

God, You raised up St. Teresa by Your Spirit so that she could manifest to the Church the way to perfection. Nourish us with the food of heaven, and fire us with a desire for holiness.Amen.

O Wonderful daughter of Spain, you taught us to walk the way of Christian perfection which is the Way of the Cross. You inspired innumerable men and women by your writings as well as your conduct, deserving the title of Doctor of the Church. Ever faithful to St. Peter's successors, inspire fidelity to religious vows on the part of those who have taken them and make them ever true to their vocation.Amen.

O God, who by your Holy Spirit moved Teresa of Avila to manifest to your Church the way of perfection: Grant us, we pray, to be nourished by her excellent teaching, and enkindle within us a keen and unquenchable longing for true holiness; through Jesus Christ, the joy of loving hearts, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.Amen

Litany of St. Theresa of Avila

Lord, have mercy on us.Christ, have mercy on us.Lord, have mercy on us.Christ, hear us.Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,Have mercy on us.God the Son, Redeemer of the world,Have mercy on us.God the Holy Ghost, the Sanctifier,Have mercy on us.Holy Trinity, One God,Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,Pray for us.Holy Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel,Pray for us.Saint Teresa of Avila,Pray for us.St. Teresa, whose heart was transverberated by the love of God,Pray for us.St. Teresa, most humble servant of God,Pray for us.St. Teresa, most zealous for the glory of God,Pray for us.St. Teresa, woman truly strong in mind,Pray for us.St. Teresa, truly detached from all created objects,Pray for us.St. Teresa, great light of the Catholic Church,Pray for us.St. Teresa, reformer and glory of the Carmelite Order,Pray for us.St. Teresa, queen of mystical theology,Pray for us.St. Teresa, lustrous name of Avila and Spain,Pray for us.St. Teresa, who didst forever glorify the name of Teresa,Pray for us.St. Teresa, wishing to suffer or to die,Pray for us.St. Teresa, exclaiming, "O Lord, how sweet and pleasing are Thy ways!"Pray for us.St. Teresa, desiring so much the salvation of souls,Pray for us.St. Teresa, tasting and seeing how sweet is the Lord, even in this vale of miseries,Pray for us.St. Teresa, exclaiming, "O death, who can fear thee who art the way to true life!"Pray for us.St. Teresa, true lover of the Cross of Christ,Pray for us.St. Teresa, who didst live to love, who didst die to love, and who wilt love eternally,Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,Spare us, O Lord.Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,Hear us, O Lord.Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,Have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Saint Teresa,R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer meditation :O God, Who didst replenish the heart of Thy blessed servant St. Teresa with the treasures of Thy Divine love, grant that, like her, we may love Thee and suffer all things for Thee and in union with Thee, that we may gain souls for Thee, and that we may secure the salvation of our own soul. This we beg through the merits of our Savior and the intercession of Thy glorious virgin Teresa.Amen.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

First Meditation for Saturday : Mary Immaculate Mother of God

1. PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.2. Read slowly and devoutly

Isaiah xxxv :

Isaiah. 35:1 ff. NRSV. "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

3. Think of Mary as robed in white, like the lily.4. And say:

(1) Thou, Mary, art the Virgin of Virgins. To have a virgin soul, is, to love nothing on earth in comparison of God, or except for His sake. That soul is virginal which is ever looking for its Beloved who is in heaven, and which sees Him in whatever is lovely upon earth, loving earthly friends very dearly, but in their proper place, as His gifts, and His representatives, but loving Jesus alone with sovereign affection, and bearing to lose all, so that she may keep Him.(2) 0 Mary, I wish I could see how you used to behave towards father and mother, especially towards St. Anne; and then how you behaved towards the priests of the temple; and then towards St. Joseph; and towards St. Elizabeth, and St. John Baptist; and afterwards towards the Apostles, especially towards St. John. I should see how sweet and lovely you were to every one of them; but still your heart was with Jesus only. And they would all feel and understand this, however kind you were to them.

5. Conclusion.-0 Mary, when will you gain for me some little of this celestial purity, this true whiteness of soul, that I may fix my heart on my true love?

About Me

I'm 100% Catholic from my childhood , devoted to my family : my husband and our son Viktor , 7 years old .
I'm compassionate and understanding , caring , kind, peaceful .
I'm not superficial , I use to meditate and keep on positive thinking .
This is the main reason of this blogs I open faithfully on eBlogger .
I'm leading my life respecting others , following my catholic principles based on faith , hope , charity and justice.
I hope that peace on Earth is not just a utopian dream !